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Oxford University Herbaria

The majority of the University's botanical collections are united as Oxford University Herbaria.

Oxford University Herbaria had its origins in the mid-seventeenth century with the foundation of the Oxford Physic Garden. Today it comprises approximately one million specimens, of which there are at least 35,000 types. Most taxonomic groups and geographical regions are represented.

The Herbaria comprise three principal collections:

  • Fielding-Druce Herbarium (OXF): worldwide collection, including all pre-1796 and British holdings.
  • Daubeny Herbarium (FHO): former herbarium of the forestry department and particularly strong in African woody species.
  • Xylarium (FHOw): wood block and microscope slide collection.

Allied collections include:

  • Botanical books and manuscripts in the Sherardian Library of Plant Taxonomy.
  • Botanical illustrations from the seventeenth century to the present day.
  • Fossils associated with late-nineteenth-century palaeobotanical teaching.

Rapid access to all the Herbaria's on-line database can be found below. Use Search collections for full text, map and image searching. Please note only about 15% of the Herbaria's collections have an on-line record.


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